Chapter Beltane to Benediction of B by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

Beltane to Benediction

Beltane
(Bel"tane) n. [Gael. bealltainn, bealltuinn.]

1. The first day of May (Old Style).

The quarter-days anciently in Scotland were Hallowmas, Candlemas, Beltane, and Lammas.
New English Dict.

2. A festival of the heathen Celts on the first day of May, in the observance of which great bonfires were kindled. It still exists in a modified form in some parts of Scotland and Ireland.

Belted
(Belt"ed) a.

1. Encircled by, or secured with, a belt; as, a belted plaid; girt with a belt, as an honorary distinction; as, a belted knight; a belted earl.

2. Marked with a band or circle; as, a belted stalk.

3. Worn in, or suspended from, the belt.

Three men with belted brands.
Sir W. Scott.

Belted cattle, cattle originally from Dutch stock, having a broad band of white round the middle, while the rest of the body is black; — called also blanketed cattle.

Beltein
(Bel"tein Bel"tin) n. See Beltane.

Belting
(Belt"ing) n. The material of which belts for machinery are made; also, belts, taken collectively.

Beluga
(Be*lu"ga) n. [Russ. bieluga a sort of large sturgeon, prop. white fish, fr. bieluii white.] (Zoöl.) A cetacean allied to the dolphins.

The northern beluga (Delphinapterus catodon) is the white whale and white fish of the whalers. It grows to be from twelve to eighteen feet long.

Belute
(Be*lute") v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beluted; p. pr. & vb. n. Beluting.] [Pref. be- + L. lutum mud.] To bespatter, as with mud. [R.] Sterne.

Belvedere
(Bel`ve*dere") n. [It., fr. bello, bel, beautiful + vedere to see.] (Arch.) A small building, or a part of a building, more or less open, constructed in a place commanding a fine prospect.

Belzebuth
(||Bel"ze*buth) n. [From Beelzebub.] (Zoöl.) A spider monkey (Ateles belzebuth) of Brazil.

Bema
(||Be"ma) n. [Gr. step, platform.]

1. (Gr. Antiq.) A platform from which speakers addressed an assembly. Mitford.

2. (Arch.) (a) That part of an early Christian church which was reserved for the higher clergy; the inner or eastern part of the chancel. (b) Erroneously: A pulpit.

Bemad
(Be*mad") v. t. To make mad. [Obs.] Fuller.

Bemangle
(Be*man"gle) v. t. To mangle; to tear asunder. [R.] Beaumont.

Bemask
(Be*mask") v. t. To mask; to conceal.

Bemaster
(Be*mas"ter) v. t. To master thoroughly.